24 Boxes Cookbook is now available on Amazon!

Just in time for box season, you can now purchase the 24 Boxes :: 1 Book on Amazon! Don’t be fooled by the “only 1 left in stock” – I can get them more inventory lickety-split :)


You can also continue to purchase the book directly from me at www.weidea.com. Thank you for your support!

Chickpea Salad with Toasted Spices and Yogurt Dressing

The first box of the season is always met with anticipation and excitement. I can count on beautiful, purple scallions making an appearance in the first few Angelic Organics boxes. I love the bright burst of color they add to a dish. This salad teases and tantalizes three of your senses – The sounds of the toasted spices sizzling and popping in the pan. The fragrance of the spices and ghee as they collide with the chickpeas. And then, there’s the taste – creamy and cool yogurt, warm and nutty spices and chickpeas. What better way to make use of those gorgeous, purple scallions?

Chickpea Salad with Toasted Spices and Yogurt Dressing
Click here for a print-friendly PDF file (new 2011 design!)

ingredients
1 tablespoon ghee or olive oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 (1 5 ounce) cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
3/4 cup thick Greek yogurt
1-1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
kosher salt
fresh black pepper

first
In a small bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, scallions, cilantro and mint. Set aside. Rinse and drain chickpeas and place in a large bowl. Set aside.

next
In a pan over medium, heat ghee or olive oil. Add mustard seeds and coo for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add cumin, fennel and red pepper flake. Continue to stir until spices are fragrant and the mustard seeds start to pop, approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute. Immediately remove from heat.

Be careful! The hot mustard seeds can sputter and jump, and the cumin seeds can go from toasted to burnt in a flash.

last
Pour warm spices and ghee over chickpeas and stir. Add yogurt dressing, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve warm or room temperature.

How to Open and Break Down a CSA Box

It’s been a long time my friends! But I’m hoping that blogging is like riding a bike and I’ll fall back easily into a routine of recipe writing and posting. We’re getting closer and closer to the start of the CSA box season and starting to get a taste of what’s to come at the Farmer’s Markets that are now open.

In anticipation of the boxes, I want to take this opportunity to review how to open and properly break down a CSA box. These workhorses can take a lot of wear and tear and, if properly cared for, can last the whole season – which saves the farms money and keeps the boxes out of landfills for as long as possible.

To see it in action, Angelic Organics produced this great video that walks you through step-by-step how to open and break down a CSA box.

A tip if you’re new to CSA boxes: part of the reason they hold up so well is a coating of wax on the inside AND outside of the box. So be careful if you’re wearing your favorite little black sundress or concert t-shirt – otherwise you can end up with a white smudge across the front of your clothes!

This year I will also be reporting for The Local Beet: Chicago blog. If you haven’t visited the Local Beet yet, it’s an awesome resource for anyone interested in local food and especially for CSA shareholders. I’m looking forward to cooking, blogging and working my way through 24 boxes with you this season. Stay tuned!

box 24 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Spinach, Kale, Thyme, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Butternut Squash, Popcorn, Beets, Carrots, Garlic

box 23 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Choi, Spinach, Winterbor Kale Head, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Butternut Squash, Baby Head Lettuce, Carrots, Beets, Garlic

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (winter share)

First delivery is November 24! Click here for details…

box 22 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Choi, Spinach, Kale, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Broccoli Florets, Popcorn, Butternut Squash, Arugula, Carrots, Garlic

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (winter share)

First delivery is November 24! Click here for details…

box 21 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Redbor, Red Russian and Tuscano Kale, Arugula, Spinach, Loose Leaf Lettuce, Romaine Lettuce, Butternut Squash, Red Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Beets, Garlic

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (winter share)

First delivery is November 24! Click here for details…

box 20 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Kale, Butternut Squash, Popcorn, Broccoli Florets, Brussels Sprouts, Loose Leaf Lettuce, Potatoes

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (winter share)

First delivery is November 24! Click here for details…

box 19 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Beets, Rutabaga, Daikon Radish, Spinach, Tuscan Kale, Arugula, Butternut Squash, Cabbage, Parsley, Garlic Cloves

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Winter Squash – Acorn, Delicata and Butternut, Apples, Onions, Collard Greeens, Chard, Tomatillos, Brussels Sprouts, Celeriac, Eggs

box 18 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Beets, Carrots, Parsnips, Daikon Radish, Celeriac, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Fennel Fronds, Hot Pepper, Winter Squash - Delicata & Butternut, Sweet Peppers, Potatoes, Chard

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Winter Squash – Spaghetti & Butternut, Beets, Turnips, Carrots, Poblano Pepper, Radishes, Apples, Kale, Red Cabbage, Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• Caesar Salad with garlic shrimp
• Red Potato Salad with Bacon & Parsley
• Butternut squash risotto
• Squash, chard, bacon and leek pasta
• Applesauce
  

box 17 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Potatoes, Lettuce, Broccoli, Spinach, Arugula, Hot Pepper, Sweet Peppers, Leeks, Winter Squash – Sweet Dumpling, Delicata, Pie Pumpkin, Butternut

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Winter Squash, Baby Carrots, Celery, Apples, Radishes, Swiss Chard, Eggplant, Assorted Hot Peppers, Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• Ceasar Salad with garlic shrimp
• Red Potato Salad with Bacon & Parsley
  

box 16 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Lemon Balm, Potatoes, Head Lettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, Pie Pumpkin, Butternut Squash, Green Tomatoes, Arugula, Spinach, Leeks

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Winter Squash, Onions, Watermelon, Tomatillos, Apples, Pumpkin, Summer Squash, Tuscan Kale, Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• We’re headed to New Glarus this weekend for weiner schnitzel, spaetzle, fudge, beer, cheese – all the best of Wisconsin!
  

box 15 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Carrots, Potatoes, Spinach, Kale, Choi, Sweet Dumpling Squash, Delicata Squash, Heirloom Tomato, Broccoli, Cabbage, Sage

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Winter Squash, Eggplant, Onions, Chard, Potatoes, Watermelon, Peppers, Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• I love the the bold flavors of One Skillet Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli
• And I can’t make enough of Roasted Squash Soup with Cayenne Pepper – a cup of this in the morning makes a perfect fall breakfast!
  

box 14 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Cilantro, Parsley, Carrots, Celeriac, Radishes, Lettuce, Onion, Acorn Squash, Kale, Arugula, Broccoli

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Winter Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon, Red Onion, Carrots, Cauliflower, Turnip Greens, Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• An Indian-inspired Roasted Radish and Potato Salad.
• If you’re overloaded with watermelon, check out this post for six unique ways to eat watermelon.
  

box 13 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Cilantro, Potatoes, Beets, Head Lettuce, Onion, Tomatoes, Heirloom Tomatoes, Acorn Squash, Tuscan Kale, Spinach

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Acorn Squash, Watermelon, Potatoes, Pie Pumpkin, Leeks, Bell Pepper, Cucumbers, Collard Greens, Ground Cherries, Tomatillos , Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• With the help of Japanese eggplants from Tai and Tyler’s garden, I made delicious caponata with pork chops.
• The arrival of leeks and potatoes means Bacon, Leek & Potato Gratin — a house favorite!
• One of our favorite fall soups: Roasted Squash Soup with Cayenne Pepper. It’s especially wonderful made with pie pumpkins.
  
• And more hot pepper jelly... you can never have enough.
  

box 12 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Dill, Thyme, Carrots, Kale, Lettuce, Leeks, Onions, Watermelon, Red Kuri Squash, Sweet Peppers, Hot Peppers, Heirloom Tomato, Zucchini, Summer Squash, Cucumber

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Watermelon, Cucumbers, Green Peppers, Green Beans, Hot Peppers, Kale, Basil, Summer Squash, Chard, Fennel, Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• Peppers are in full swing and now is the time to “put up” some Hot Pepper Jelly! Serve with cream cheese and Ritz crackers for an effortless appetizer (caveat: it’s only effortless *after* you’ve done the canning, of course).
• This might be the last of the zucchini so use ’em while you can! Go savory with Zucchini Pancakes or sweet with Zucchini Bread.
  

box 11 :: 2011

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Fennel, Cilantro, Lemon Balm, Beets, Kale, Tomatoes, Heirloom Tomatoes, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Cucumber, Zucchini, Sweet Peppers, Onion, Garlic

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Assorted Heirloom Summer Squash, Potatoes, Cucumbers, Cantaloupe, Swiss Chard, Green or Yellow Beans, Hot Peppers, Sweet Corn, Basil, Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• I freestyled an awesome vegetable soup starting with onions, garlic and celery. Then I added chopped, fresh tomatoes and slowly cooked them down until they were thick and caramelized. I deglazed the pan with some white wine, then added chicken stock, carrots, squash, fresh corn and kale. We’ve been eating it all week with garlic bread. Yum!
• Then with the rest of the chicken stock (I made a full batch of Slow Cooker Chicken Stock), I made a pureed soup with carrots, fennel and garlic.
• I’m planning on steak fajitas this coming week to use up all of these green peppers. I’m not a big fan of green peppers, and fajitas are about the only thing I like to use them for!
  

box 10 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Onions, Carrots, Lettuce, Sweet Peppers, Tomatoes, Cantaloupe, Hot Peppers, Sweet Corn, Celery, Cucumbers

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Cantaloupe, Cabbage, Sweet Corn, Summer Squash, Cucumbers, Hot Peppers, Basil, Kale, Tomatoes, Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• Very excited to try this Raw Corn and Zucchini Salad
• I love this Roasted Tomato Sauce recipe because it’s super simple and uses up loads of tomatoes. I’m thinking of upping the vegetable quotient by also roasting some carrots and summer squash and adding them to the puree.
  

box 09 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Basil, Onions, Kale, Bok Choi, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers, Sweet Corn, Asian Sun Jewel

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Onion, Sweet Corn, Cucumber, Heirloom Tomatoes, Potatoes, Hot Peppers, Cantaloupe, Heirloom Cucumbers, Heirloom Summer Squash, Collard Greens, Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• Still sick! This has been one doozey of a cold. Hopefully I’ll be back up and cooking next week...
  

box 08 :: 2010

ANGELIC ORGANICS

Leeks, Summer Savory, Anise Hyssop, Chard, Arugula, Lettuce, Peppers, Hot Peppers (Jalapenos and Hot Banana), Cucumbers, Eggplant, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes

HARVEST MOON ORGANICS (split share)

Corn, Tomatoes, Kale, Cucumbers, Green Bell Pepper, Heirloom Summer Squash, Onion, Basil, Hot Peppers, Eggs

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

• I was out of town for three days and then came down with a nasty summer cold, so I haven’t quite kept up with veggies this week! Don’t worry though – my friend Bridget took most of the AO haul off my hands and hopefully I’ll feel better in the next few days to tackle my split of the Harvest Moon share.